Coverage: Efforts to legalize marijuana in Maryland

The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Thursday to legislation that would make possession of marijuana paraphernalia a civil offense, bringing it into line with the state's treatment of small amounts of the drug itself.

In a year when budget cuts dominate debate in Annapolis, advocates for legalizing marijuana are mounting a renewed effort to get Maryland to follow the lead of Colorado and Washington state - if not now, then in a year or two.

A state commission charged with launching Maryland's lagging medical marijuana program hit the pause button Tuesday, postponing a final vote on already tardy regulations to tweak licensing fees and make cannabis available to patients in liquid as well as smoke-able form.

Starting Wednesday, you can no longer be arrested in Maryland for possessing a small amount of marijuana. But how the rest of that interaction with police plays out might depend on what jurisdiction you're in.